Fruit and vegetable carton



July 16, 1968 CHUNG C. WEI

FRUIT AND VEGETABIJE CARTON Original Filed Sept. l, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l CHI/N6 C. WE/

AT'TOBNEYS July 16, 1968 CHUNG c. WEI

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept.

/NVENTOR CHUNG 6. WEI

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,392,904 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CARTGN Chung C. Wei, Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Calabash Company, Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda, a corporation of Bermuda Continuation of application Ser. No. 576,590, Sept.. 1, 1966. This application Aug. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 664,569

13 Claims. (Cl. 229-33) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A unitary carton comprising `side walls, end walls and cover flaps. Two spaced partitions are located centrally of the carton and are attached to the side walls lby aps. Flaps extending from the end walls are joined to the side Walls. The portions of the side walls and bottom wall vbetween the partitions are severable to transform the unitary carton into two separate complete cartons.

This application is a continuation of parent application Ser. No. 576,590, tiled on Sept. 1, 1966.

This invention relates to paper boxes and more particularly to an improved carton possessing certain advantages over known types of cartons for packing fruit and vegetables.

The advantages of the carton of this invention may best be understood when one considers by way of example the problems involved in the shipping of bananas in foreign commerce.

One method of shipping bananas from the country in which they are grown to other nations, is to pack them in hands separated from the :stern in cardboard boxes provided with openings yfor ventilation. It is the custom of different countries to import the resulting hands of bananas at certain weight. Thus, importers of the United States of America usually import the hands of bananas in about forty pound lots, whereas the importer in European countries usually buy the bananas in about twentyfive-pound lots. This heretofore necessitated that the exporter carry in stock cartons of different sizes to satisfy the requirements of the different countries to which the bananas are shipped.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a carton which can be employed to ship fruit and vegetables, as -for example bananas, in lthe larger quantities required by certain countries, and yet can be readily adapted to the shipment of such products in the smaller quantities customary with other countries.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved fruit and vegetable box construction which can successfully withstand the crushing stresses to which this type of box is subjected in the stacking and handling thereof during shipment of the product.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fruit and vegetable carton construction that will provide maximum ventilation for the product when such catrons are piled in multiple stacks closely arranged together.

A still further object o-f the invention is to provide an improved banana box construction which is less expensive to manufacture, can be more readily assembled and is easier to open than known boxes of this type.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing a carton embodying the invention in opened condition;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the carton closed;

C 3,392,904 ce Patented July 16, 1968 FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cardboard blank from which the body of the carton is formed;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cardboard partition blank;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional vie-w through one of the cover llanges; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of a group of stacked cartons embodying the invention.

In the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate the side walls of the carton, the numerals 12 and 13, the end walls of the carton, and the numeral 14 the bottom Wall of the carton. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the aforesaid walls are formed from a single piece lof cardboard and are separated from each other by suitable creases formed in the blank. The cardboard is preferably of the type in which a central corrugated layer of paper material is sandwiched between two plain layers of such paper material to provide a relatively stiff paperboard. The side walls 10 and 11 of the carton and the bottom wall 14 thereof are provided with ventilation `openings 15 which are preferably symmetrically arranged with respect to a transverse median plane indicated by the dotte-d line 16 in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings.

Hingedly connected by creases to both side edges of the end walls 12 and 13 are aps 12', 12" and 13', 13", respectively, of equal length. The aps 12', 13' overlie the interior surface of the side wall 10, and the llaps 12, 13" overlie the interior surface of the side wall 11. It will be noted that the length of the flaps 12', 12", 13', 13" is less than one-half the length of the side walls 10 and 11 so that the ends of such flaps are spaced a substantial distance from the transverse centerline 16 of such side walls. The length of such aps, however, is sufciently great to overlie the major portion of one-half of such `side walls, as is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The flaps 12', 12", 13' and 13" are provided with openings 15 which register with the openings 15 in the side walls 10 and 11.

The carton is divided at its center by two transverse cardboard partitions 17 and 18. The partition 17 is provided with end llaps 17', 17", the former of which, as is shown in FIG. l, overliesthe interior surface of side wall 10 and the latter of which overlies the interior surface of side Wall 11. The ap 17' is disposed in the same plane as and in opposed relation to the tlap 12', and the flap 17" is disposed in the same plane as and in opposed relation to the flap 12". It will be noted that the flaps 12', 17 and 12", 17" substantially cover the areas of such side walls 10 and 11, respectively, between the partition 17 and end wall 12. Similarly, the partition 18 is provided with end aps 1S', 18 overlying the interior surfaces of the side walls 10 and 11, respectively, and disposed in the same planes as and in opposed relation to the aps 13 and 13", respectively. The flaps 13', 18' and 13", 18" substantially cover the areas of the side walls 10 and 11, respectively, between the partition 18 and the end wall 13. The side wall 10 is provided with top ilaps 10', 10", the former of which overlies the upper portions of the llaps 12', 17' and the latter of which overlies the upper portions of the flaps 13', 18'. Similarly, the side wall 11 is provided With top flaps 11', 11", the lformer of which overlies the upper portions of the aps 12", 17" and the latter of which overlies the upper portions of the flaps 13", 18". The aforesaid flaps of the side walls 10 and 11 are each secured at its ends by two staples 19 to the top portions of the associated end wall and partition flaps and side Wall halves, which staples secure the end walls 12 and 13, the partitions 17 and 18, and the side walls 10 and 11 in properly assembled relation.

It will be noted that the partitions 17 and 18 are in spaced relation and that the arrangement of the afore- 3 said flaps is such that partition 17, end wall 12 and the a-ssociated halves of the side walls 1t) and 11 form one complete separate container, and that partition 18, end wall 13 and the associated other halves of the side walls and 11 form another com-plete separate container. The two containers are integrally connected together by the portions of the side walls l@ and 11 and the bottom wall 14 between the two partitions 17 and 18. The partitions 17 and 18 are preferably spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of the flaps or ilanges of the two covers 20, 21 so that the outer end sections 20', 21 of such ilaps or flanges will tit snugly therebetween. It will also be noted from FIG. 4 of the drawings, that the two partitions 17, 18 are formed from a single blank and are integrally joined by a spacing section 23 which seats on the bottom wall 14. This spacing section 23 and the staples 19 secured to the flaps of the partitions 17 and 18 maintain such partitions properly spaced throughout their en tire areas. The central connecting portions of the side walls 10 and 11 between the spaced partitions, are provided at their upper ends with slots 22, 22, each having vertical edges spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the partitions 17, 1S, and a depth approximately equal to the width of the end sections 20', 21 of the cover flanges. The upper ends of the side edges of the slots 22, 22 are beveled to facilitate the insertion of the cover flange end sections 20', 21 into such slots. It will be noted also that the associated upper portions of the side wall flaps 10', 19, 11' and l1 are also beveled to conform to the shape of the entry end of the slots 22, 22.

The covers 20 and 21 are integral with and hingedly connected to the end walls 12 and 13, respectively. Each cover is provided with an integral, rigid flap or flange which by its construction remains in assembled relation without the aid of any additional fastening means. The end and side sections of the flap or flange on cover 2t) are designated generally by the reference numerals 20', 20" and 20"', and the end and side sections of the ange on cover 21 are designated generally by the reference numerals 21', 21 and 21". It will be noted from a comparison of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings that the side flange sections 20, 20', 21 and 21' are each cornposed of an intermediate ap 25 hinged to the body of the cover blank and an outer flap 26 hinged to the intermediate ap 25, the two flaps being folded inwardly on each other as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The end flange section 20', 21 are each composed o-f an intermediate ap 27 which is hinged to the body of the cover blank and an outer flap 28 hinged to such intermediate flap, the two flaps being folded inwardly on each other as indicated in FIGS. l and 5. The intermediate flaps 27 are each provided with end flaps 29, 29 which are located between the folded aps 25, 26 of the associated side flange sections (note FIG. 5). It will also be noted from FIGS. 1 and 5, that the outer aps 26, 26 of the two side flange sections of each cover are locked in folded position by the outer flap 28 of the associated end flange section, thereby maintaining all of the flange flaps of each cover in such assembled relation as to provide a rigid cover flange.

It will be understood yfrom the foregoing that the two integrally connected separate containers formed from the single body blank and the single partition blank, may both be lled and closed by their covers 20, 21, and utilized as a single, unitary container for shipment of the content thereof. The hingement of the two covers on the ends of the unitary container makes for easy access to its two compartments and the ready opening and closing of such compartments. As is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, in the closed condition of the unitary container the end ange sections 20', 21 of the covers will be inserted between the partitions 17, 18 and into both the slots 22, 22, the side flange sections 20, 21" overlying the outer surface of the side wall 10, and the side ange sections 20 and 21 overlying the outer surface of the side wall 11.

The end ange sections 20', 21' snugly tit between the partitions 17, 18 and in the slots 22, 22 so that the covers 20, 21 will be elfectively locked in closed condition by the coaction of such parts. If it is desired to make the single unitary container into two separate containers either at the place of shipment, or at the place of delivery, this may readily be accomplished by cutting the side walls 10 and 11, the spacing section 23 of the partition blank, and the bottom wall 14 along the dotted line 16 in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. When such cut is made, there will result two separate complete containers each capable of holding one half the quantity of product capable of being held by the unitary container from which they were formed. The region of cut may be better defined by securing two staples 19' to the `bottom portions of the partition flanges 177 17, 18 and 18" (see FIGS. l and 2). The addition of these staples 19' will also further increase the stability of the structure of 4the carton. The line of cut may also be made more definite by printing lines on the side and bottom walls of the carton coincident with the dotted line 16.

The cardboard material of the end walls 12 and 13 of the unitary container are cut to provide two hand holes 30, 30 by which such container may be carried and which also functions as ventilation holes for the product. Preferably also, the partitions 17, 18 are provided with sirnillar hand hold openings 31, in FIG. 4, to provide ventilation through the length of the unitary carton and to provide hand holds for the divided cartons. The covers 20 and 21 are also provided with ventilation holes 15" which may be arranged, as illustrated, to be aligned with the ventilation holes 15 provided in the bottom wall 14 of the carton when the covers are closed. As a result of such ventilation holes, and the construction of the covers, there is provided ample ventilation for the product when such cartons are in stacked relation. It is usual in the shipment of such cartons to place stacks of about eight or ten thereof closely adjacent of one another to form a row of stacks. As is indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, when the cartons of this invention are so stacked, the relatively thick side ange sections 20, 20"', 21, 21'" will cause substantial spacings 32 to be formed between the cartons in adjacent stacks. These spaces 32 are Suthciently wide, at least one-half inch, to provide for adequate ventilation through the ends of such spaces and through the openings 15 in the side walls of the cartons. It will be noted also that in such stacked relation of the cartons, the increased strength afforded them by the end wall flaps 12, 12, 13', 13, the partition flaps 17', 17", 18' and 18, the partitions 17, 18, and the association with the latter of the rigidified cover flanges, will prevent destruction of the cartons under the crushing stresses they will be subjected to during shipment.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary carton comprising a body blank having a central panel forming the bottom wall of the carton, two side panels and two end panels hingedly connected to the sides of said central panel and forming the side and outer end walls, respectively, of the carton, and two panels hingedly connected to the outer sides of said end panels and forming the covers of the carton, said outer end walls each having two side flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls, two partitions located in spaced relation centrally of said side walls and extending transversely of the latter, said partitions constituting the inner end walls of two divisible cartons forming said unitary carton, and each of said partitions having two side aps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls and disposed in opposed relation to the two side aps of the outer end wall with which it is associated in a divisible carton, and means securing the flaps of said outer end walls and said partitions to said side walls, said covers each having an end fiap insertable into the space between said partitions, and the portions of said side walls and bottom wall between said partitions being severable to transform the unitary carton into two separate complete cartons.

2. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said side walls are each provided with a central slot eX- tending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, the ends of the end flaps on said covers extending into said slots.

3. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said partitions are spaced aparta distance equal to approximately the combined thickness of said cover end flaps.

4. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said securing means fastening the flaps of said partitions to said side walls defines the side boundries of the portions of said side walls to be severed to product the divided cartons.

5. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said outer end wall flaps each overlie the major portion of one-half of a side wall and is provided with ventilation openings in registry with ventilation openings in said side walls.

6. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said outer end walls and said partitions are provided with elongated openings forming hand holes and ventilation openings.

7. A unitary carton as defined in claim 2, in which said side walls are each provided with a top flap on each side of said central slot thereof, each top flap being inturned and overlying the upper portions of an associated outer end wall flap and partition flap, said securing means fastening such associated top, outer end wall and partition flaps to a side wall.

8. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said partitions are formed from a single blank having a spacing section hingedly connecting the bottom edges of said partitions and seated on said bottom wall of the carton.

9. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said end flap on each of said covers comprise an end intermediate section hingedly connected to the body of said cover and an end outer section hinged connected to the said intermediate section and folded on the latter, said covers each comprising a side intermediate section hingedly connected to each side edge of the body of said cover and a side outer section connected to each side inter-mediate section and folded on the latter, said end intermediate section being provided with end fla-ps each located between the :adjacent ends of each pair of folded .side intermediate and outer sections, and said end outer section engaging and locking such adjacent ends of the side outer sections in folded condition.

10. A unitary carton as defined in claim 1, in which said side walls are each provided with a plurality of ventilation openings, and in which said covers each include side aps along the side edges thereof, said side iiaps being substantially thicker than the material forming the body of such cover and such that when a multiplicity of said cartons are arranged in a plurality of stacks with the side flaps of the covers of adjacent cartons in the stacks in engagement with one another, longitudinally extending ventilation openings of substantial width will be formed between the opposed side walls of adjacent cartons to provide increased ventilation through the ventilation openings in the side walls of the cartons.

11. A fruit and vegetable carton comprising a panel forming the bottom wall of the carton, two side panels and an end panel hingedly connected to three sides of said bottom panel and forming the two sides and one end wall, respectively, of the carton, and a panel hingedly connected to the outer side of said end panel and forming the cover of the carton, said one end wall having two side flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls, a separate panel constituting the other end wall of the carton and having two side flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls and disposed in opposed relation to the two side flaps of said one end wall, and means securing the fiaps of said one end wall and said other end wall to said side walls.

12. A unitary carton composed of a cardboard body blank formed into a plurality of panels and comprising a bottom wall, and two side walls and two end walls hingedly connected to the sides of said bottom wall, two panels hingedly connected to the upper sides of said end walls and forming the covers of the carton, two partitions made of cardboard material separate from said body blank and located in spaced relation centrally of said side walls and extending transversely of the latter, said partitions constituting the inner end walls of two divisible cartons forming said unitaiy carton, and each of said partitions having two side aps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls, said body blank including a plurality of side wall flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls, and covering major portions of the interior surfaces of said side walls between each end wall and an associated partition, and means securing said body blank iaps and said partition flaps to said side walls, said covers each having a flap insertable into the space between said partitions, and the portions of said side walls and bottom wall between said partitions being severable to transform the unitary carton into two separate complete cartons.

13. A 'unitary carton comprising a body blank having a central panel forming the bottom wall of the carton, two side panels Iand two end panels hingedly connected to the sides of said central panel and forming the side and outer end walls, respectively, of the carton, and two panels hingedly connected to the outer sides of said end panels and forming the covers of the carton, said outer end walls each having two side flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said side walls, two partitions located in spaced relation centrally of said side walls and extending transversely of the latter, said partitions constituting the inner end walls of two divisible cartons forming s-aid unitary carton, and each of said partitions having two side flaps overlying the interior surfaces of said .side walls, and means securing the flaps of said outer end walls `and said partitions to said side walls, said covers each having an end fiap insertable into the space between said partitions, and the portions of said side walls and bottom wall between said partitions being severable to transform the unitary carton into two separate complete cartons.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS '2,297,982 10/ 1942 Potts 229-15 2,702,151 2/ 1955 Guyer 229--15 3,101,880 8/1963 Peterson 229-15 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

